Will Justin Timberlake Perform At The Super Bowl With Prince

The Feed

Posted on February 05, 2018
by Michael Patrick

After a flurry of rumors that Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl halftime show would include a performance featuring a hologram of legendary performer Prince, it appears that the crazy plan may be cancelled at the last minute.

While there is still a good chance that JT may cover a Prince song, apparently he has decided to shelve the idea of a 'duet' with the Purple One.

Longtime friend and collaborator with Prince, Sheila E, says she spoke to Timberlake on Saturday and confirmed there will be no hologram during the halftime show.

Family, I spoke w/Justin 2nite and he shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans. I look 4wrd 2 seeing what I’m sure is going 2 be a spectacular halftime show. There is no hologram. 🙏🏽💋 pic.twitter.com/mhVXBfBa1B

The idea was to honor Prince, but Prince, in an interview back in 1998 said playing with a hologram of a deceased musician would be "the most demonic imaginable."

Prince said at the time:

"That's the most demonic thing imaginable,"

"Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing … it really is demonic. And I am not a demon. Also, what they did with that Beatles song ['Free As a Bird'], manipulating John Lennon's voice to have him singing from across the grave … that'll never happen to me. To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control."

So while it appears the idea is on hold, when it comes to Justin Timberlake and Super Bowl shows, anything is possible, just ask Janet Jackson.